Giant Nakamura

"i heard your dad couldn't get you into ucla film school?  yeah, he didn't let me in either..."  that was one of the first things that eric nakamura, creator & president of giant robot, said to me when we sat down for lunch at his restaurant gr/eats.  those were comforting words coming from someone who has been able to shape an entire culture through his magazine, 4 stores, and restaurant.  

you gotta respect eric's entrepreneurial vision and execution.  i mean dude built 3 businesses right in the middle of his community (he grew up blocks away from sawtelle).  as big and busy as he is, eric still found time to help another nakamura from the westside navigate through his quarter life crisis!

check out the "papershapers" show that eric curated at the scion gallery in...that's right culver fuckin city! (the show ends may 2)

Channel APA Interview

this berry embarrassing interview was done during the sf international asian american film festival last month for channel apa. the interview was so weak i don't think they even posted it. oh well, at least the new era and my hundreds tee look clean!

New York New York - Big City of Dreams

The Shack

my dood kori (also a close friend of the iijima's) came out from "the a" for the new york premiere. here he is in the 40 min. line that you'll always see infront of shake shack:

but it's so fuckin worth the wait! kori went with the double stack. that ball of fried goodness in the middle is really a portobello mushroom and cheese, all battered and fried together:

when the previously described shroom burger explodes in your mouth...this is the result...

The Premiere at Manhattan Country School

MCS was so packed they had to open two other classrooms to accommodate everyone who showed up. the screening was a huge success! chris iijima's family, friends, former students and new fans all gathered in the school where chris taught for many years.

the women responsible for the event: chris' former student and now active parent and staff at MCS akemi kochiyama (left) and director of the school Michele Sola

Lunch at the historical Iijima apartment

chris' sister lynne invited me, kori and miya to visit their father tak iijima, a 442 vet and one of the OG's of the early asian american movement. this is the same washington heights apartment where chris was rasied and also where one of the first progressive asian american organizations in the country, asian americans for action (AAA), held their meetings.

Kickin' it

it wouldn't be a new york trip if i didn't see the old CAPSA crew. its been a minute since our bandana and bullhorn days, here we are all sold out and booshie:

also got a chance to hang out with the homie aliwong.com, new york's newest comic sensation:

Chicago Screening at Asian American Showcase - 4/11 & 4/14

song will make it's midwest premiere next weekend at the 14th asian american showcase in chicago!  the film will be playing with the feature documentary you don't know jack: the jack soo story on 4/12 at 3pm and on 4/14 at 6pm.  both screenings will be held at the gene siskel film center.  

New York Premiere This Friday 3/27

New York Premiere of A Song For Ourselves Friday, March 27th at 7pm Manhattan Country School 7 East 96th Street (Between Madison & 5th Ave.) New York, NY 10128

(tickets sold out) i'm really excited about this weeks new york premiere.  not only is it the first screening in chris iijima's hometown, but its also happening at place that meant a lot to chris and his family, manhattan country school.  m.c.s. where chris spent many years (1975-85) as a teacher, the place where he met his wife jane (who was also a teacher at the school) and where his sister lynne currently works. here's chris with his 6th grade class at m.c.s. back in '82 akemi kochiyama (front row, middle) now works for m.c.s and is one of the main organizers of the friday's event!

all proceeds of the screening will go to the chris iijima fund, an endowment fund to support the unique sliding scale tuition policy that makes m.c.s. accessible to more students.  

Asian Pacific Arts Video and Article on LA Premiere

asian pacific arts recently posted an article and video of the some of the highlights of last months LA premiere of song.  read and watch them here.  big ups to liann, ada, warren, and the rest of the apa staff for covering the event!

why does this photo look like geo, bam, kiwi and phat are starring in a filipino re-make of barbershop?

speaking of barbershop scenes...

Bay Area Premiere at SFIAAFF

last week song had its yay area premiere at the san francisco international asian american film festival.  i went up for the fest and had one of the best festival experiences ever!   i made it up to the city just in time to hit the opening night "gala" where ellen from caam somehow talked me into doing a short interview.  sarah started off the interview by doing the robot while holding the biggest gotdamn microphone in all of sf:

"production manager" roger, at least that's what his badge said, enjoyed the wine and cheese:

the best part of caam's festival is that people from all over the country come out for it.  i got a chance to build with folks like corrine (ny), heather (tee dot), and kevin (hawai'i) all in one bar:

corrine (front left) screened her documentary short excuse my gangsta ways.  watch the trailer and interview with corrine here.

my good friend aram (in the blue jays hat) came from toronto to screen his latest film the others, which was one of the best shorts i saw at the festival.  after the screening we went to an after-prom like hotel party where musician goh nakamura (far right) and friends performed.

why am i always stuck with the filipinos?  reppin' the better half of the state; aj (xylophone films), patricio (kid heroes), abe (vc film fest) and julius:

aj, pat and julius screened their music video for "crooks and rooks" by bambu.

many of chris iijima's friends threw a very nice reception for the film the night before the screening.

the renown film scholar and my old professor b.ruby rich:

the infamous spencer nakasako, award-winning filmmaker, teacher and my mentor.  be on the lookout for an official shit-talking session with me and spence at the upcoming la asian pacific film fest, no seriously.

Song Gets Write-Up In LA Times!

robert ito wrote a really nice article on song that ran in the la times on saturday.

"The film is at turns celebratory and wistful, a paean to Iijima and the L.A. that, despite its rap as a town without a center or a sense of community, nurtured the artist like no other."

read article here

i sat down with robert a couple of weeks ago. being japanese american himself, he really understood the history and significance of the asian american movement and the relevance of chris iijima's story. another reminder why we need more people from our respective communities with access to mainstream media outlets like the times.